Dressing Appropriately For Interviews

Class Location: The Internet.

Description: This course is designed to help you decide what to wear to your interview.

Objective: Find out what employers expect of your dress code.

When dressing for an interview, always err on the conservative side. It’s easy to watch attorneys and detectives on TV shows and believe that professional women go to work in short skirts and low-cut blouses, but that’s not the way it works in the real world. Interviewers want to you to look professional, not sexy.

When in doubt, be conservative, because you won’t offend anyone by dressing professionally, but you might kill your chances at a job by showing too much skin. This problem applies mostly to women, but men can also give a bad impression by wearing low-riding pants or sporting an unprofessional hair style.

Even if the company has a casual dress code, you should still dress professionally for your interview. You’re still trying to sell yourself at this point. Wait until you already have the job to fit in with the casual attire of the rest of the staff. Job applicants should wear suits, buttoned-up shirts or sweaters, and women’s skirts should at least go past the ends of their fingertips. Make sure your clothes are clean, neat and ironed. Steer clear of sleeveless blouses, spaghetti straps, bare legs, flip-flops and open-toe shoes.

Remember that you’re not going to a fashion show. Your clothes should give you an air of credibility and professionalism. Wearing clothes that are too trendy or racy makes it hard for the interviewer to take you seriously. You’ll appear immature and not ready for the corporate world. Even if you’re qualified for the job, inappropriate attire will work to your disadvantage. If it comes down to two applicants with the same qualifications—one who dresses professionally for the interview and one who looks ready for a night on the town—it’s easy to guess who will get the job.

When you start going to interviews, you’re entering the corporate working world. Be sure to dress the part.